China tech is seeking growth in the Middle East

China is the world's largest importer of oil. For decades, countries in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia, have prioritised relations with China in order to safeguard a key customer. There has been less urgency on China's side to reciprocate: its exports to the region have paled in comparison to its imports. That could now change. A string of Chinese tech groups have started moving into Saudi Arabia as part of aggressive global expansion plans. The latest is food delivery giant Meituan, which is seeking to hire staff based in Riyadh. This is significant: Meituan would be choosing the Middle…